I am trying to get a 2.5V DC bias. I have done it using a voltage divider (see most recent schematic). Works fine in simulation, but is unstable when trying to hook this up to the ADC/DAC circuit. Using an adjustable voltage regulator (LM317) in its place has led to too much biasing, and it starting to affect other parts of the circuit causing clipping at 1.4V, and a decrease in the overall gain. Also, there is not enough current for the output to drive a 32 ohm speaker, so I am using an OPamp 5523N on the output stage, wired up as a voltage follower with a gain of 1, and that is being used to drive the speaker. But I am trying to make this out of transistors, so using am op amp feels like cheating, and I want to know how to make a preamp that can drive the speaker using only transistors.

1. Is there a better more stable way to DC bias the output to 2.5V then putting DC on the output right after C3 (see most recent schematic)?

2. How can I increase the current of the output so it can drive a 32 ohm speaker?

davada

18th October 2012 04:54 AM

Hi Krystina,

I take it you are being marked on this and the design parameter where handed to you.

Is this correct?

I not a big fan of capacitive coupling in amplifier stages. It seem like a waste.
I would direct couple and bias the second stage with the output of the first.

I could work this all out with pen and paper but it would be a lot easier and faster just to do it in spice. Are you using LT?

Maybe you could post the spice files.

Cheers,

davada

18th October 2012 04:59 AM

Hi Again,

A 32 ohm load is bit to much for such a small transistor as a 2n2222.
I think you need to go to medium power transistor at the output.
A push pull topology would be even better. Is there a reason you're using a single ended power supply?
You might also consider using a darlington configuration at the output to get the current drive up.

ksubieta

18th October 2012 06:25 AM

2 Attachment(s)

Since you are curious, I am doing this for my senior design project, and the design parameters are specified due to the ADCs capabilities.

These design parameters were decided upon because the ADC I am inputting into has a span of 0 - 5V, and the max signal that my electric guitar is outputting on the oscope is 0.9 mV. I am using a single ended power supply because I have a wall wart which supplies 12V DC, and I am not quite sure how to make a -12V supply. I have uploaded the LT spice files here, 6 is the most recent.

"I would direct couple and bias the second stage with the output of the first."

Not sure what you mean by this, unless you are just saying to remove the 10 uF cap in between the first and second stage.

I wonder if there is a better way to input into an ADC. I have been reading that some ADCs just need a cap on the input, and they bias the signal internally. Do you know anything about this?

Thanks for the reply,
Krystina

ksubieta

18th October 2012 06:43 AM

Haha ok i think i know how to make a negative supply rail now: [URL="http://www.ti.com/lit/ds/symlink/lm7905.pdf"]
http://www.ti.com/lit/ds/symlink/lm7905.pdf

davada

20th October 2012 07:11 AM

Hi Krystina,

When you joined the forum you told the moderators this was a digital project and so they directed you here. But this is really an amplifier project and there is a better place for this thread over in the solid state analog line level. Ask a moderator to move your thread over there. I think you will get a lot more attention if your in the right place.